Last month, Anthony W. Pyper was arrested with 13 other people at the now infamous “Circus House” in Centralia — purported hub for overdoses, assaults and other unlawful activity.
The operation was executed by the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), which described the house as a “major source of calls” over the past decade, one known for its “high volume of illegal and unusual behavior.”
Pyper was charged with knowing possession of a controlled substance and use or delivery of drug paraphernalia and was arraigned at the Centralia Municipal Court Sept. 25.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Pyper made another appearance — this time in Lewis County Superior Court — for new charges, including three felony counts of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and one count of use of drug paraphernalia.
Pyper, 62, could face five years in prison and $10,000 in fines for each felony charge — though a maximum, consecutive sentence would be unlikely. Use of drug paraphernalia is considered a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in prison and $1,000 in fines.
Pyper was arrested a day earlier when Centralia police allegedly found him passed out in a car in the local WinCo Foods parking lot — with one of the doors open.
A woman, Jessica Hill, was asleep next to him.
According to court documents, the police sergeant noticed a piece of foil by Hill.
After waking the two, the sergeant asked for consent to search the car. Pyper and Hill agreed.
Another officer arrived shortly after with a police K-9 to search the car for suspected narcotics.
While searching, the officer discovered a black “leather-type sling bag” containing paraphernalia, and “small baggies for individual sale.”
“There was a plastic baggie containing chunky white substance suspected to be methamphetamine,” court documents state. “There was a large zip-lock baggie with a brown powder that field-tested positive for the presence of heroin (18.2 grams). There was also a small baggie with a white chunky powder substance that is suspected to be fentanyl.”
The officer also found a “tooter straw” used to consume drugs and “several different containers” possibly used for storing narcotics, according to court documents.
Pyper was put in handcuffs. After being given a Miranda warning, he allegedly said that everything in the car belonged to him.
Hill was arrested for the alleged fentanyl found in her purse during the search.
During Pyper’s preliminary hearing, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello asked for a bail amount of $25,000 cash or surety.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller argued for bail of $20,000 unsecured, saying that Pyper resides locally and does come to court, adding that most of his superior court history was over a decade old.
In 2023, Pyper was convicted of violating community custody, first-degree criminal trespassing and knowing possession of a controlled substance, according to court records. He was sentenced to one year and a day in prison.
According to court documents, Pyper was previously convicted of second-degree escape, second-degree robbery, bank robbery, and bank fraud, along with a number of drug-related offenses such as delivery of methamphetamine.
Judge Paul Strophy said he was mindful that, although the alleged offenses in this case were non-violent in nature, they could lead to very violent consequences.
Strophy set bail at $10,000 cash or bond and ordered Pyper not to possess or consume any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substances while the case is pending.
An arraignment was scheduled for Oct. 23. Chris Baum was appointed to represent Pyper.
